FROM FAMILY DINNER TO A DEADLY NIGHT ON THE BAY: NEW DETAILS EMERGE IN GRANDPA’S BOAT CRASH

BAYVILLE, NEW JERSEY — What began as a family dinner at a waterfront restaurant ended in unimaginable tragedy when two young siblings were thrown from their grandfather’s boat and later died.

According to newly reported court documents, 9-year-old Mya Golabek and her 7-year-old brother, Sigmund, had been with their family for dinner at MJ’s Restaurant on July 19. Afterward, the children reportedly chose to return to their grandparents’ home by boat.

A NIGHTTIME TRIP ENDS IN DISASTER

Their grandfather, 64-year-old Stephen Schneider, was operating a 30-foot Tidewater boat when it struck a wooden channel marker in Barnegat Bay at around 9 p.m.

The impact threw both children into the dark water.

Schneider and his wife pulled the children from the bay and emergency responders immediately began efforts to save them. Both children were taken to a hospital but sadly died.

 POLICE SAY ALCOHOL WAS INVOLVED

Court records indicate Schneider told investigators he had consumed three beers over roughly two hours during dinner.

However, investigators determined that he was impaired by alcohol, with authorities saying his alertness, judgment, coordination and reaction time were significantly affected.

The children’s life jackets were reportedly recovered, and witnesses described first responders desperately working to revive them.

NOW SCHNEIDER FACES HOMICIDE CHARGES

Schneider voluntarily surrendered to police and was taken into custody.

He faces two counts of second-degree reckless vessel homicide/death by vessel, along with charges related to operating a vessel under the influence and reckless operation.

The case has now transformed a family outing into a criminal investigation—and left two families grieving the loss of two children remembered as exceptionally close siblings.

 TWO CHILDREN. ONE FAMILY. ONE DEVASTATING NIGHT.

Mya and Sigmund were not simply passengers on a boat.

They were siblings who loved each other, children with families who expected them to come home that night.

Instead, their final family outing ended with emergency crews fighting desperately to save their lives.

A dinner. A boat ride. A few minutes on the water—and two young lives were gone.

The charges against Stephen Schneider are allegations. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.